Every parliamentary written question tabled by Paula Barker this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 61–74 of 74 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of households that receive the single person council tax discount are (a) widows and (b) widows of retirement age.
The Government does not collect data on the individual characteristics, or benefits received, of residents of households receiving a single person council tax discount.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of households in receipt of the single person council tax discount that are set to lose Winter Fuel Payments.
The Government does not collect data on the individual characteristics, or benefits received, of residents of households receiving a single person council tax discount.
Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to work with the voluntary and community sector to help end homelessness.
The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for cross-governmental coordination of policy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and will update in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what role her Department will have in coordinating a cross-departmental approach to ending homelessness.
Homelessness levels have sky-rocketed, and we must deliver long-term solutions. The Government will look at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country, to get us on back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.The Government is taking action by setting up a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group which the Deputy Prime Minister will chair, bringing together ministers from across Government to develop this long-term strategy.
Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Rough Sleeping Initiative Funding beyond March 2025.
The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for cross-governmental coordination of policy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and will update in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help reduce the number of women who are rough sleeping.
Homelessness and rough sleeping levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. We recognise that women sleeping on the streets have different experiences and needs to men, particularly relating to experience of violence and abuse, and that services may need to be delivered differently to meet the needs of women. The Government will look at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us on back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department will take to help protect victims of domestic abuse who have joint tenancies in social housing.
The Government is committed to ensuring that, where appropriate, barriers preventing vulnerable groups in need from accessing social housing are removed. We will continue to work with stakeholders to support victims of domestic abuse to access social housing, including those who have joint tenancies.Local housing authorities can adopt local connections tests to determine who qualifies for an allocation of social housing and manage demand within their area. Statutory social housing allocations guidance is clear that local authorities have the power to exempt victims of domestic abuse from any such test. This includes those living in a refuge or other forms of safe temporary accommodation in their district having escaped domestic abuse in another local authority area.Guidance also encourages local authorities to give priority for social housing to victims and their families who have escaped abuse and are being accommodated in a refuge or temporary accommodation under the reasonable preference (priority) categories. Further, allocations guidance encourages local authorities to give additional preference (high priority) to people who are homeless and require urgent rehousing due to domestic abuse.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that local authorities do not apply local connection tests to victims of domestic abuse.
The Government is committed to ensuring that, where appropriate, barriers preventing vulnerable groups in need from accessing social housing are removed. We will continue to work with stakeholders to support victims of domestic abuse to access social housing, including those who have joint tenancies.Local housing authorities can adopt local connections tests to determine who qualifies for an allocation of social housing and manage demand within their area. Statutory social housing allocations guidance is clear that local authorities have the power to exempt victims of domestic abuse from any such test. This includes those living in a refuge or other forms of safe temporary accommodation in their district having escaped domestic abuse in another local authority area.Guidance also encourages local authorities to give priority for social housing to victims and their families who have escaped abuse and are being accommodated in a refuge or temporary accommodation under the reasonable preference (priority) categories. Further, allocations guidance encourages local authorities to give additional preference (high priority) to people who are homeless and require urgent rehousing due to domestic abuse.
Communities and Local Government, if her Department will set out a timeline for the commencement of the repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824.
The Government is clear that homelessness is too high and can have a devastating impact on households affected.We need to take a long term approach and to tackle the different factors that can cause people to become homeless.We will consider these issues carefully and, working with Mayors and councils across the country, develop a new cross-government strategy to put Britain back on track to ending homelessness. This will include consideration of any relevant legislation including the Vagrancy Act.
Communities and Local Government, when her Department will publish its expected timeline for establishing a unit to end homelessness.
The Government is clear that homelessness has a devastating impact on those affected. We want to take a long-term approach and, working with Mayors and councils across the country, we will develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness. MHCLG’s homelessness advice and support team (HAST) continue to work closely with local authorities under the highest pressures to reduce the number of households being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation for longer than six weeks.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to prevent households with children being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation for longer than six weeks.
The Government is clear that homelessness has a devastating impact on those affected. We want to take a long-term approach and, working with Mayors and councils across the country, we will develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness. MHCLG’s homelessness advice and support team (HAST) continue to work closely with local authorities under the highest pressures to reduce the number of households being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation for longer than six weeks.
Communities and Local Government, when she plans to confirm the future of the Housing First pilots in (a) the Liverpool City Region, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) the West Midlands combined authority areas.
The Government is clear that homelessness has a devastating impact on those affected. We want to take a long-term approach and, working with Mayors and councils across the country, we will develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness.The Government’s spending plans will be set out at the next Spending Review.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to local authorities of providing temporary accommodation.
The Government recognises that homelessness has a devastating impact on those affected as well as placing financial strain on councils. Local authorities have reported the mounting costs of providing temporary accommodation. This information can be accessed here. In 2022 – 23 the net cost to local authorities of providing temporary accommodation (after housing benefit) was £699 million.
Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to stabilise local authority revenue budgets.
Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement.We understand that improving how local government is funded is crucial to enabling councils to deliver for local residents and ensuring we can deliver our missions. We will provide councils with more stability and certainty through multi-year funding settlements and by ending wasteful competitive bidding. This will ensure councils can plan their finances for the future properly, delivering better value for money for taxpayers.We want to hear from councils about the financial challenges they are facing and we are committed to improving the local government finance landscape in this Parliament.